Oyster-cleaning machine



.Oct. 21, 1930.

E. T. MCNANEY 1,779,046

OYSTER CLEANING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 'i1ed May 24, 1928 mui 'llml Oct. 21, 1930. McNANEY 1,779,046

OYSTER CLEANING MACHINE Filed May 24, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 jig-z.

glwuento'v Edward ML Nalzgy atbmwmf.

Fatented Get. 21, 1930 str e OYSTER-CLEANING MACHI'NE Application filed May 24,

This invention relates to improvementsin food cleaning machines, particularly in a-n apparatus for cleaning and ashing the V shelled oysters. i

One of the principal objects of this invention is to providean oyster washing and cleaning Ina-chine Which Will functionto re ceive the uncleancd'oysters andcleliver them practically free from dirt and rinsing or Wash \vaterintoa suitablereceptacle. nnother object of this invention is'to provide a food cleaning device whereby theuncleaned or unwashed food is received into the machine and; is circulated therein through asui able quantity of rinsing or Wash Water, and then delivered into a portion Of the aps which lifts theffood above thelevel of thc'liquid and delivers it therefromrinto a recetacle. f q f i further object of tliis'invention is to pro vide a cleaning machine. for oysters Whe reinf thescuin and dirt which forms on the surface of t e Washing liquidis 'efiiciently disposed of v means for aerating the liquid being suita I w element which functions'to allow the-doorto :5

Willappear V i l V from the following detailed description of the 1 bly locatedwithin the tank.

therobjects of this invention device as'di'sclosed in thefthr'ee sheets of'drawings which are herewith made a part-of this application a I In the-drawings Fig. 1 illustrates a sectionalside elevational view of the food cleaning niachine, disclosing the different members assembled in operative relationship. i v r l I 2 representsa sideelevationalviewjof the delivery end of theQfOQd Washing and cleaning ma chine disclosing particularly the delivery chute andthe means for bringing the food-to th'elpeint here it is'delivere therein. Fig. 3 illustrates an end elevationalview of Figure 2; taken along line 3 3. 1 Figja represents an elevationalvieiv. of a portion of the tank, disclosing particularlythe troughor' gutter-member adapted to re cei-v'e'the overflow of the liquid on thelow side of'thetanki. j 1 f j, Fig.5 illustrates a sectional viewof Figure 1 taken alongline 5+5, I

192s. sensin zsoiaoaf delivery chute,

Fig. 6 represents a ino'dification of this invention disclosing "sectional elevational view of a double-ended scoop member for receiving the food, one" ofthe scoop members being arranged to receive theoys ters-er footl- 5i as they deliver i-mnrthe tank; while'the other scoop member is functioningfto -deliver the Washed and cleanedoysterslor food mtejthe' Fig. 7'illustrates an end'view of Figure Fig.1 8 represents a sectji'ona'l elevational 1 View of a portion of the SCOOP member and delivery chute, v disclosed F in Figure '6, and-j particularly illustrating-the means for allow-a ing the oysters "or; f0o dto flow from the scoop f into the delivery chute; v Fig 9 dis'closes a view'off Figure 8; showing the scoopidoor in closed' position j'ustafter the-delivery of the oysters into the chute. 1

Fig, 1l0 i1lustra'tes a-"sectional view" i-of Figure 8 taken along line 10*10, disclosing thelatch rneans for ho'lding- -the'scoop-doorin closed position, and'the 'lugmemberfat j tached thereto for? cooperating with the cam open and close.

-- In order to provide an improved means for I jcleaningand Washing food, such as shel lecl' oysters,' it is preferred in this invention to provide a tank l,i inade" of any-properinater v end Wall 8 properlybraced by ine'ansof angle, 5

iron reinforcing elements 4, the opposite end, of the tank- 1 is securely connected toan a'u i 'iliary tankportion 5g vvhich'hasa downward 'ly extending section 6 adapted to receive in rotatablerelationship thereina scoo-p'member 7 which is brought ijnto'opencomniunication vvith the cylindernieinber 8, having a plu rality of perforations 'through fits cylindrical surface, as-designatedby the numeral 9;

The cylinder 8. is rotatably 'mounted ithin "95?- the tank 1, in any suitable inanner -such as that disclosed in Fig.l,j wherein one end of thecylinder 8. is rotatably held in position by means of bearing ineinberl'l and'plate portion 12, securely i fastened to a sidewall of tank section 5, the opposite end of the cylinder'8 being preferably supported by an inlet-portion 13, having a collar portion 14,

adapted to be received loosely within, the inner end 15 of the cylinder 8, the chute 16 being providedfor thepurpose of delivering food into the cylinder, the upper end of the and the chute 16 may beheld firinlyin fixed relationship to the tank 1, by means of a bracket 18, fastened securely .to the end wall 3 of the tank, thereby functioning to provide a means forhol'ding one end of the cylinder 8 in rotatable relationship-to the'tank 1, as well as means for allowingthe food to be de-. livered into the apparatus for the purpose of washing andcleaning. Theforward end of the cylinder 8 is provided with an opening 19 forthe purpose of allowing the food to deliver into the pocket member 7. 1

' he tank portions 1 and 5 are-adapted to be supplied with a suitable amount ofwashing or cleaning liquid, as clearly disclosed at 20. In order to. insure a proper circulation of the cleaning "liquid, which percolates through the perforations 9 into the cylinder 8, it is preferred in this invention to provide a spiral member 21, madeof any suitable ma terial, such asi sheet metal, securely; fastened to a spindle 22, which functions to rotate, by means of some suitable power through a wheel 23 and belt connection 24,1ocatedat the outer end of the spindle or shaft 22. Suitablebearings 25 .and 26 are securely fastened to. wall portions ofthe tank in order toproperly sup-- port the spindle 22 in rotatableposition. I H The spiral blade is preferred-,in this invention, to be welded or otherwise secured along its outer periphery. to the shell of the cylinder 8, and securely fastened along its inner pe-- riphery to-the spindle member 22. It is to be understood that the spiral conveyor within. the cylinder8 maybe of any; type. suitable for the purpose, the.mos t common of which consists 'ofia rotatable spindle 28 havingse- V curelykeyedthereto a shaft or spindle sleeve l portion 22, as-clearly disclosed in 'Fig.;1. V7 @The pocket-member? is preferablynside "of a form disclosed in -Fig. 1 and Fig, 3,.

whereinfan inwardly extending portion 29 is securely connected with the revolving cylin- 1 der 8, and the shaft or spindle 28, and posi tioned infsuch a manner as to register with the opening 19 in the cylinder {8, The main bodyjportion of thepocket 7 is provided with an opening30- and asuitably formed door 31, which may be hinged or otherwise to one side of the opening 30, as at 32." Obviously,

when the pocket? has been rotated to. a position as disclosed in Fig. 3, the door 31 will function to drop open, and the cleaned or? washed food, such as oysters, are allowedto -i fall into a delivery chute33, from which the I food may drop into areceptacle 34:- v

In order to insure the automatic operation of the opening and closing of the door 31, a guide or cam member 35 is provided, made of any suitable material such as iron or the like, and firmly held in position against a wall 36 of'the auxiliary portion of the tank 6 by means of bracket elements 37, 38, 39,

" and 40. a

During the rotation of the cylinder and the pocketflithedoor will be heldin closed position by means of sliding contact with the,guide;35, until the opening in the guide I41 is reached, whenthe door will drop open and the oysters or food allowed to flow into the chute 33.

It is preferred'in this'invention to provide a suitable drain plug 42 in the auxiliary portion of the tank 6.

Fig; 1 illustrates. one means for mounting the rotatable shaft 28 in the. tank 1, wherein the bearing 25 is in an opening 'ofthe chutelG. gln order to provide means for allowing the food to drop freely into the pocket 7 from the cylinder 8, and to prevent the cleaned vention wherein the scoop .member, for receiving the oysters or other food as they'fiow from the cylinder 8,-is formedihaving two food fromfalling back into-the cylinder 8, i

pocket sections at and 45 connected together 7 in open commu'nication with eachother, The outer wall 46'of the pocketissuitablyformed and securely fastened to the'revolvingjc'ylinderj8, while the inner wall portions? is provided, at its free ends with curvedniembers 48 and 4:9 for preventing thecleaned oysters from dropping 7 back into. the cylinder just i previous to delivery into the receiving chute.

The shaft"member"22 is adapted .to b'e securely fastened to the wall member;47in such a manner that the rotation of the shaft 22 will. cause 7 the. cylinder- 8 and the pocket members 414 and 45 toqrevolve at the? same time.

D0ormembers 5 0 and-51am pivotally mounted'by means of hinges 52 and 53 to the wall member 47 of-the double-ended scoop,

in such a manner'thatwhenthe scoop por- 7 tion 45 1s recelvlng theoysters or other food from the cylinder ,8, the pocket member la-is delivering thecleaned oysterspractically'free from the washing jliquid into a e yte 4 the b t avingbpened automatically for allowingthe f d QT oystersto deliveiitherein, u r

",The automatic means forholdmg the doors .50 and 5l-inclosed positionand foropening them at thedesired time,maycon'sist of any suitable device, one: form of structure for in some. proper manner to the main disclosed z t-5.9, and 60.

Lug portions. 61 and GQ'areiormedprefen ably integrally withthelatch members. One end of each latch member, 55. and 5.6;, is'provided witha hook member, 63 and 6.4, adapt ed to: cooperate with pins 6.5 and'6'6, extend. ing from the door members. '50, and-5;1..

the. pocket sections, 44: and t5 revolve. the latch members'l and-lugmember ofthe latchit; function to contact with trip member 67,

made ofany suitable material, suchas spring; I o p The. bottomof the tanki 1 is preferably steel or the like, and. adapted tobe fastened of the tankportion 5 as at 6.9;.

-The trip member 6.7 isformedhav-inga flanged portion 70 provided with a notched portion 71,. formed infsueh a-manner that when the lug 62 reaches'a ire-determined; point, in. its movement, it will automatically release from contact with thetrin'meln er,

and the latch willsnap back into. the position for cooperating with the pins 66 extending from the door, thereby firmly holding the door in closed position-for another revolution of the. pocket. z p In order to-efliciently hold the latch mem ber 55., asclearly disclosedinFigure l0,in

inter-locked relationship with the door- :51, it

is preferred in "each instance "to; provide a spring member 72. I 7

Then. the pocket isiiipos ition, as disclosed I in Figure 6, the door 51 has been released and j dropped into the chute 54,.a sufiicient disf I tance for allowing the food toflowtherein."

guiding member 7 3, made of anyproper material such as spring steel, is preferably attached at one end to the chute 54, as dis closed at 7 4, the free end of the guiding memher 7 3 being so arranged within the chute 54 1 that the door will beallowed to open within the chute just the proper distance for allowing the food to flow therein, and after this has been accomplished the door, revolv' ing with the scoop members, contacts with the guiding element 7 3 and'is forced upward -to a closed position, as shown in Figure 9, at

which time the latch lug member 62 has left the guiding'member 67, thereby causing the door'to be firmly locked in closed. position.

It is to be understood that the arrange- 1 ;ment of latch members and56, trip member 67, and guiding member 73 must-be carefully adjusted so that they will function to allow the doors to open and close automatically at the pro-determined time; i? Thetank 1 in this invention is preferred to be provided with side wallportions 75 and 76, the upper longitudinal edge of one of the side. wall portions, for'instance 76,

constructed lower than the upper longitudie jynal'edge oi the opposlte slde 75, in order pocket, as clearly;

frame 681; V V so. that the cleaning'liquid may drainthere-v .fmmas idesired'througlr'a pipe '85. d

thatthe scum, ediment, dirt; and the like which accumulates on the surface of the washing'liquidmay be discharged overp= and 82.

per edge 77'into a trough member 78, which is, fastened to the side "0 that the scum ,.s.ediment and dirtzmay be dis 7 charged through suitable fdrain' pipesz' 8l formed having inclined portions 813 and-84 "In order to aerate the washing liquid", a:

perforated: air pipe 86' is positioned within the. tank '1. approximately as disc-losedi-i-n' Figure 1, below" the. revolving cylinder 8, and I supported by means of bracket portions. 8:7

on the bottom 'ofthetanka; The air ipeee, Y

is supplied with air through a pipeline 818:; It has been found; from-experience that the revolvingaoylinder should be cleaned periodically both inside and"out,-rand there fore; man holes 8a arelocated-at; intervals. along; the, cylinder and are; suitable cover portions 90, p 7 lfn'order toprovide means for forcing scum and sediment into the troughmembers 78and 8Q, waterorliquifd,perforated pipe lines;

91, and 92 are loeated, as clearlydiselosedin- Figures tand 5;:insuehaa manner thatwhe from the valvs'93 and *94E, 1 it will; producezar current tha forces theaseum and sediment:

across the tank into the'troughs ?8 and '8 0 Y upply of liquid. "may be ob- V hthe periorationsain the, QYlinde YB. theapn-aratus throuahtheeceiving ch te'i16; after. pa sing th i gh..t :.cylinder 3,; where. they are aerated and thoroughly cleaned, they pass into a pocketwhich rewolves with the cylinder andare raised to a pesi ion'above theliquid level-,=.there y be ng thoroughly drained, after which the pocket door opens. andcthes oystersare' allowed to;

flow into, a-chutean'd'from theredeliverinto a receptacleprovided for the purpose.

. Ia-operation this invention" provides'-a washing i and" cleaningapparatusfor foods,

proyided with lot he. Water-" s. llowed tofiowz-into the.tank

ilt) V T eor ter to. be treat d are delivered into.

which-is particularly adapted 'for use in the ;wash i-ng and cleaning; of shelled or shucked oysters; 'Howevengit may be readily-and efficiently used. for the purpose of washingang'cleani ngoysters before tl iey'are'opened,

or for other types offood; This apparatus is particularly adaptable for washing the oysters previous to canning or the like, and isof-simple, inexpensive and efi cient con-g structionadap'ted to uniformly clean the shucked oysters and give them a final rinsing before the canningprocess -Obviously, in this device; there is little or no waste 'of'the rinsingwater.'- u 1 It is understood that alterations and subs stit utionsumay be made in the above disclosurewithin the scope of the appended claims without affecting the spirit of this invention.

FWhatIclaimis: a T

r 1. A food cleaning and'washing machine,

tank adapted to be substantially filled with comprising a tank for holding the cleaning liquid, a rotatablymounted. receptacle within the tank for receiving the food, perforations in the receptacle through which the liquid 7 may 'percolate, said receptacle having an opening in one end forreceiving the food,' the" opposite 'end being provided with a pocket for receiving the food a-fter passing throughthe receptacle, theipocket being arranged to revolve with the receptacle, said pocket having a closure element" for the openingarranged in such; a ,manner that when the pocketicontaining the cleaned food 7 has revolved with? the receptacle-to a point above the cleaning liquid, the closure element a will open and allow the cleaned, and washed food to deliver into a suitablereceptacle;

2. In a food cleaning device," comprising a tank,a driving shaft -mounted within the tank, a cylindrical food'receptacle mounted onthe shaft,pocket member mounted thereon beyond the circumference of the tank to revolvewiththecylinder'and in open communication therewith, l a spiral blade 1 within the cylinder for propelling th e food in the 3. Inla food cleaning dev'ice, comprising; a tank, a driving shaft mounted 'withinthe tanlr a cylindrical foodreceptacle mounted tank,- a' driving shaft mounted within the tank acylindrical foodreceptacle mounted on the 'shaft, a "pocket member mounted' thereon to revolve with the cylinderand in open communicationtherewith, a spiral'blade within the cylinder for propelling the food inthe direction of the pocket, thescoop having an outer and innerlportion, saidrouter lutionof the pocket. 7

6. A food cleaning machine comprising a water, means for conveying food through the 7. The structure of claim 6, with closure for the discharge opening, means for tripping said closureas reaches the top,;and means for reclosing 'said closure" after. the foodlhas been'discharged. i i- 8. The structure of claim 6,'in-Which the discharge pocket specified'is secured to and rotates with the conveying means. 7 1

*9. Thestructureof claim 6', with a dis the rotary pocket. r

In testimon%whereof I 'afiix mysignature.

I a DWARD: T.'MoNANEY.

7, charge chute extending within the. orbit of on the shaft, apocket member mountedthere I on to revolve with the cylinder; and in open 7 communication therewith, a spiral blade within the cylinder for propelling the food in the direction of thep ocket,thescoopihaving an outer; and inner portion, and discharge open1 n'gs and pivotally mounted doorsfortheopenlngs, 1

device, comprising a' tankja driving shaft mounted within the r tank, a cylindrical food receptacle mounted on the..shaft, 'a pocket "member mounted V thereonto, revolve with "the cylinder and in o open communication therewith, "a spiral bladef within the cylinder forzgpropelling the food inthe direction'of the :pocket,the

scoop 1 having: an outer inner portion," and discharge openlngs and pivotally mount-i ed doors for the openings, means-for auto-r rmatically' opening and,closingpthe doors f5glna food cleaning device, comprising a 

